RevGals Friday Five - Interviews

Mother Laura, noting that there always seem to be a few RevGals applying for new positions, brings us this weeks' Friday Five.

1. What was the most memorable interview you ever had?

I HATE interviewing. That said, the most memorable one was a long time ago. I had taken the state exam for being a probation/parole officer and (to my surprise) scored very highly. At the interview, I could think of nothing except, with each question, "I cannot do this." However, I just have to put my "best foot forward" in any interview. So I did. I was desperate for a job at the time, and I knew if they offered it to me I would feel compelled to take it. It was the only time I prayed not to be offered a job for which I had interviewed. I wasn't. Whew.

2. Have you ever been the interviewer rather than the interviewee? If so, are you a tiger, a creampuff, or somewhere in between?

Yes. I'm in between. I know how difficult interviewing can be, so I tried to be as gracious as possible. However I was sometimes amazed at the ineptitude of some interviewees. Once, the person responded negatively to every single question. Like, "Do you have any experience dealing with low-imcome clients?" "No." "Are you comfortable driving in the city?" "Uh, not really." "Are you able to handle multiple situations at once?" "Maybe not." "Any experience working with an ethnically diverse population." "Not really." At that point I looked at the young, newly graduated college guy and asked in some frustration, "Do you want to work here?" He looked very surprised, and he said, "Well, sure I do!" I felt compelled to step out and speak with him after the interview and give him just a little help about how to present himself during the next one, since he sure wasn't going to be hired at our firm.

3. Do phone interviews make you more or less nervous than in-person ones?

More. I like to see the faces of those I'm speaking with.

4. What was the best advice you ever got to prepare for an interview? How about the worst?

"They are interviewing you, but you are also finding out about them. Keep your eyes and ears open and you may find out you do not want the job." Note number one! Ha! Bad advice, "Tell them what they want to hear."

5. Do you have any pre-interview rituals that give you confidence?

I remind myself of positive things I know about myself. I talk to myself as if I am someone else giving me advice. Not exactly a ritual, but a confidence booster. Sometimes I pretend. I mean, not to be phoney, but just to pretend I am the cool, confident, attractive, brilliant person I wish I was.